Therapeutic vibratory pad



July 29, 1969 VECCHIO THERAPEUTIC VIBRATORY PAD Filed Oct. 31, 1966INVENTOR. 40/6/ VECCH/O A TTOK/YEYS.

United States Patent 3,457,910 THERAPEUTIC VIBRATORY PAD Luigi Vccchio,6003 Fair Ave., North Hollywood, Calif. 91606 Filed Oct. 31, 1966, Ser.No. 590,984 Int. Cl. A6111 21/00 US. Cl. 12824.2 12 Claims ABSTRACT 0FTHE DISCLOSURE A therapeutic pad according to the present disclosurecomprises a field-producing means for producing an alternating magneticfield and a metal armature adjacent to the field-producing means forproducing vibrations when the field-producing means produces suchalternating magnetic field. The armature has a plurality of flexibleleaves, each of said leaves having a base about which it may bend, andat least two of the bases being nonparallel. An optional feature residesin the use of a half- Wave rectifier in series with the field-producingmeans for reducing the average power dissipation. Another optionalfeature resides in the use of a heating coil in connection with thevibrating armature to heat the pad.

This invention relates to a therapeutic pad.

An object of the present invention is to provide a therapeutic padcapable of selectively producing heat and/ or vibration.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a therapeutic padwith an armature which vibrates in an alternating magnetic field, whicharmature is designed to obtain the maximum vibration from the magneticfield.

An optional and desirable object of the present invention is to providea therapeutic pad with a heating means for producing therapeutic heatand means for selectively heating the therapeutic pad at a rapid rate toits therapeutic temperature.

Another optional and desirable object of the present invention is toprovide a vibratory therapeutic pad, having an electriaclly energizablevibration-producing means, with a half-wave rectifier in series withsaid vibrationproducing means. The rectifier reduces the powerdissipated by the vibration-producing means while the vibratory forceremains unaffected.

The present invention generally comprises a therapeutic pad having aplurality of conductive coils adapted to produce vibrations whenenergized with alternating current. A heating coil is provided forderiving and maintaining temperatures of therapeutic value, and means isprovided for selectively operating the conductive coils and/ or theheating coil.

According to a desirable form of the invention, a plurality of heatingcoils are provided, and means is provided for selectively actuating oneor more of the heating coils.

The above and other features of this invention will be fully understoodfrom the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a therapeutic pad in accordance with the presentinvention having a heating means and a vibratory means;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a magnetic coil used in the pad of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an armature used in conjunction with thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 1illustrating a clamp used in the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a circuit of the present invention; and

3,457,910 Patented July 29, 1969 FIG. 6 is a time-temperature graphillustrating the thermal properties of a heating coil and vibratorymeans of the present invention.

In the drawings, there is illustrated a plurality of serially-connectedconductive coils 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. The coils are each stitched (bymeans not shown) to a flexible cloth 15, for example, heavy burlap. Thewires of each coil are clamped together at several places with clamps16. Although illustrated as serially-connected, it is understood thatcoils 10-14 may be connected in parallel. The coils may take on anydesirable configuration, such as rectangular, eliptical or circular andmay be placed in any desirable array, such as side-by-side, one overanother, or nested. The coils illustrated in FIG. 2 are substantiallyrectangular in shape and each consists of approximately 50 to 500 turnsof wire. The coils are of such dimension as to permit a nesting array.

Referring to FIG. 4, clamp 16 comprises an upper and lower section 60and '61 respectively, secured together by tape 62 or other bandingmeans. Sections 60 and 61 are preferably constructed with hard steel.Hard steel is preferable because it provides a high thermal transferfrom coils 10-14 to the surface of the therapeutic pad, and it does notappreciably affect the magnetic field. Secured Within the clamp andsurrounding coils 10-14 is a wrappnig 63 of cellular plastic foam.Wrapping 63 provides the dual purpose of insulating clamp 16 from thecoil and providing sufficient friction to prevent the clamp frommovement along the winding.

In close proximity to coils 10-14 is a pliable steel armature 17,preferably in the form of a Maltese cross. A suitable cloth 18 is spacedbetween coils 10-14 and armature 17. An aerated non-conductive foam pad19 is placed over armature 17 for contact with the user or patient.Cloth 18 and pad 19 may be fastened together to form a pillow containingarmature 17.

Clamps 16 provide a Surface upon which the armature pillow may rest.This surface, best illustrated in FIG. 2, provides several functions.First, the surface provides a space between the coils and the tips 47aof the armature into which the armature tips are free to vibrate.Second, the surface provides a high thermal path between the coils andarmature 17 so that heat may be transferred from the coils to thearmature. In prior systems, the armatures have had to rely on thesurface area of the coils for heat transfer, which surface area wasusually quite small because one wire of the coil protruded above theother wires thereby creating a surface area of the size of one wire. Thesurface provided by clamps 16 provides a substantial surface forinduction of heat into armature 17. Third, the clamps maintain coils10-14 in a spaced relation so that they may vibrate due to magneticinduction between them.

Also stitched to burlap cloth 15 are beating coils 20 and 21 andthermostatic devices 22 and 23. This arrangement, shown in the upperportion of FIG. 1, is preferably stitched to the opposite side of burlapcloth 15 from coils 10-14. Each of the heating coils is preferablyspiralized nicrome wire insulated with fibrous asbestos. Anotherarmature arrangement may be placed over the heating coil arrangement sothat burlap cloth 15 and its attached heating and magnetic coils aresandwiched between the two armatures. Since the armatures are highlyflexible and the coils are mounted on burlap cloth, the therapeutic padis highly flexible and may be wrapped around the body of the user intoany desirable configuration.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, heating coil 20 is connected by lead 24 to aterminal 25. The other end of heating coil 20 is connected by lead 26 tothermostatic switch 22 which is in turn connected by lead 27 to anotherthermostatic switch 23. Thermostatic switch 23 is connected by lead 28to terminal 29 and by lead 30 to one end of heating coil 21. The otherend of heating coil 21 is connected by lead 31 to a third thermostaticswitch 44. Thermostatic switch 44 is connected to a fourth thermostaticswitch 45, which is in turn connected by lead 46 to coil 10. Lead 32connects the last of the seriallyconnected coils 14 to terminal 33.

Referring particularly to FIG. 5, the circuit diagram illustrates aganged four-position two-pole switch 34 having wipers 35 and 36. Wipers35 and 36 are connected together and to one side of plug 37 by lead 38.Plug 37 is adapted to be connected to a source of ordinary house currentof 115 volts, 60 cycles AC. The first position of the wipers isopen-circuited to provide an OFF position. The third and fourthpositions of wiper 35 are connected together and to terminal 25 by lead39. The second and third positions of wiper 36 are connected togetherand to one side of diode 40 by lead 41. The other side of diode 40 isconnected to terminal 33 by lead 42. Terminal 29 is connected by lead 43to the other side of plug 37.

Normally-closed thermostatic switch 23 may be adjusted to open atapproximately 150 F., and is influenced by the temperature induced fromheating coils 20 and 21 and the vibratory coils 1014. Normally-closedthermostatic switch 22 may be adjusted to open at a temperature slightlygreater than 150 F. Thermostatic switch 23 thus controls the hightemperature limit of the therapeutic pad and switch 22 operates in theevent of failure of switch 23. Normally-closed thermostatic switch 44may be adjusted to open at approximately 180 F., and is influencedpredominantly by the heat from vibratory coils 10-14. Normally-closedthermostatic switch 45 may be adjusted to open at a temperature slightlygreater than 180 F. and operates in the event of failure of switch 44.

Referring now to the operation of the therapeutic pad, and particularlyto FIGS. 2 and 3, the force induced by the magnetic field of coils 10through 14 into the other coils and into armature 17 is determined bythe equation where F is the force induced in the X direction (out of theplane of FIGS. 2 and 3), I is the current in coils 10 through 14, anddL/dx is the rate of change of inductance with the movement in the Xdirection of armature 17.

From the above force equation, force will be greatest if the geometry ofarmature 17 is such as to give a large dL/dx. Since coils 10-14preferably have a rectangular configuration as indicated in FIG. 2 and acurrent direction indicated by I, the resulting magnetic field is in thedirection indicated by H. Thus, the most effective armature design wouldbe one which provides maximum movement in a direction perpendicular tothe most possible lines of magnetic flux.

The Maltese cross design of armature 17 indicated in FIG. 3 conforms tothe magnetic field of coils 10 through 14 and allows simultaneousbending of leaves 47 and tips 47a about both the major and minor axes 48and 49, respectively. Two leaves have bases 48a aligned in parallel withaxis 48 and two leaves have bases 49a aligned in parallel with axis 49.The bases of the leaves are connected, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Diode 40 provides half-wave rectification of the sine wave currentavailable from the source of house current. The current through coils 10through 14 is halfwave rectified A.C. having a frequency of 60 cyclesper second. The fundamental frequency of the vibratory force istherefore 60 cycles per second and armature 17 may be physicallyconstructed to be tuned to this frequency. The armature thereforerepresents a simple harmonic oscillator capable of vibrating at or atless than 60 cycles per second.

Coils 10-14 tend to vibrate due to magnetic attraction in the magneticfield. Therefore, although armature 17 is desirable, the pad may beconstructed without an armature, and vibration will be provided bymovement of coils 10-14. Clamps 16 maintain coils 10-14 in spacedrelation so that the coils are free to vibrate. Further, with currentflowing in the wires of coils 10-14, a temperature rise occurs in thecoils which may be transferred to the surface of the pad. Withoutarmature 17, the pad becomes even more flexible and may be distortedinto any desirable configuration.

The present invention also provides a simple but effective method forreducing the power dissipation of vibratory coils 10 through 14 whilemaintaining the force on armature 17 sufficiently high.

It can be shown that for a therapeutic pad of fixed geometry, the powerdissipation is proportional to UN, where N is the number of turns ofwire in a coil. It can likewise be shown that the maximum forceavailable from the magnetic field is proportional to l/N' Thus, theforce available would appear to be proportional to the powerdissipation. However, since the peak vibratory force is proportional tothe maximum power rather than the average power, a half-wave rectifier,such as diode 40, reduces the average power in half and the peak poweris unaffected. The dissipated power is therefore reduced by one-half byeliminating one side of the input sinusoidal current waveform and thepeak force remains unaffected. The diode reduces the average force byreducing the frequency of vibration to 60 cycles per second.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 and particularly to the operation of thetherapeutic pad, in the OFF or first position of switch 34, no currentis drawn through the windings. In the VIBRATION or second position ofswitch 34, full current flows through heating coil 21 and vibratorycoils 10-14, thereby energizing the same. Since heating coil 21 has arelatively slow heat-producing capability (when compared to that of coil20) the temperature of the therapeutic pad rises slowly due to theheating effect provided by heating coil 21 and conductive coils 10-14.The temperature of the pad slowly rises, following a time-temperaturecurve approximating curve 50 in FIG. 6, until the temperature reaches180 F. At that temperature, thermostatic switch 44 operates to controlthe temperature at that level. Conductive coils 10-14, 'being energized,produce vibration in the manner hereinbefore explained.

In the VIBRATION AND HEAT, or third position of switch 34, the currentis divided through two parallel circuit paths; one path containingheating coil 20, and the other path containing the series circuit ofheating coil 21 and conductive coils 10-14. The temperature of the padrises more rapidly when the switch is in the VIBRATION AND HEAT positiondue to the combined heating effect of heating coils 20 and 21 andconductive coils 10-14. The temperature of the pad rises rapidly,following a time-temperature curve approximating curve 52 in FIG. 6,until the temperature reaches F. Thermostatic switch 23 operates at 150F. to control the current through heating coil 20. The temperature ofthe pad continues to rise over 150 F. due to heating coil 21 and thetemperature produced by coils 1014, but the temperature rise is moreslowly than before. The temperature rise approximates the upper portionof curve 52 in FIG. 6 until the temperature reaches F. Thermostaticswitch 44 then operates to control the temperature at 180 F. Sinceconductive coils 10-14 are energized, coils 10-14 produce vibration inthe manner heretofore explained.

In the HEAT, or fourth position of switch 34, full current flows throughheating coil, 20, thereby energizing the same. Heating coil 20, whenoperating independently of heating coil 21 and conductive coils 10-14,rapidly heats the pad, following a time-temperature curve approximatingcurve 51 in FIG. 6, until the temperature reaches 150 F. At thattemperature, thermostatic switch 23 operates to control the temperatureat that level. Since conductive coils -14 are not energized, nonoticeable vibration is produced.

The present invention provides a therapeutic pad capable of selectivelyproducing heat and/or vibrations. The pad produces a maximum ofvibratory force with a minimum of power dissipation, and may include anarmature designed to obtain the maximum vibration from the magneticfield. The pad is highly flexible and may be wrapped around areas of thebody for maximum comfort. The pad is easily fabricated and utilizes asimple, yet effective design.

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiments shown in thedrawings and described in the description, which are given by way ofexample and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A therapeutic pad comprising: field producing means for producing analternating magnetic field; a metal armature adjacent to said fieldproducing means for providing vibrations when said field producing meansproduces an alternating magnetic field; said armature having a pluralityof flexible leaves, each of said leaves having a base about which theleaf may bend, at least two of said bases being non-parallel, saidleaves being connected at their bases.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for producing analternating magnetic field comprises a plurality of conductive coils.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further including a plurality ofclamps, each clamp surrounding one of said coils at one location on saidcoil, said clamps providing a surface for contact with said armature,and said clamps further providing a high thermal transfer between saidcoils and said armature.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said conductive coils are in arectangular nested array, and wherein said armature has a substantiallyrectangular configuration having a size approximating the outer boundaryof the array.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said armature has four leaves,the bases of two of which leaves are perpendicular to the bases of theother two leaves.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 further including half-wave rectifiermeans in series with said plurality of conductive coils for reducing theaverage power dissipation of said plurality of conductive coils.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2 further including a healing coil, andselection means for selectively connecting said heating coil and saidconductive coils to a source of alternating current.

8. Apparatus according to claim 2 further including a first heating coiland a second heating coil; said plurality of conductive coils beingserially-connected to said second heating coil; selection means forselectively connecting said first heating coil, said second heating coiland said conductive coils to a source of alternating current; andthermostatic means capable of disconnecting said source of alternatingcurrent at a predetermined temperature.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said selection means isadapted to connect the source of alternating current to either (a) saidfirst heating coil, (b) said first and second heating coils and saidplurality of conductive coils, or (c) said second heating coil and saidplurality of conductive coils.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said conductive coils are ina rectangular nested array and Wherein said armature has a substantiallyrectangular configuration having a size approximating the outer boundaryof the array.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said armature has fourleaves, the bases of two of which leaves are perpendicular to the basesof the other two leaves.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including a non-conductivepad adjacent said armature.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,667,866 2/1954 Hart 128-2412,949,108 8/1960 Vecchio 128-24.1 3,043,294 7/1962 Nell 128-41 XR L. W.TRAPP, Primary Examiner

